Flush valve



March 9 1926.

E. KROMER FLUSH VALVE Filed Oct. 13 1925 awn um bo'z jilzazzzez 29.entire absence of springs, and bein Patented Mar. 9, 192 5 reassessEMANUEL KROMER, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

FLUSH VALVE.

Application filed October 13, 1923. Serial No. 668,370.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, EMANUEL I(ROMER,'EL citizen of the United tates,residing at Spokane, in .the county. of Spokane and State of ashing-ton,have invented new and useful Improvements in Flush Valves, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates toimprcvement's'in flush valves for toiletsand-like purposes.

One of the objects ofthis invention is to provide a flush valve arrangedand constructed to not only control the amount orvolume of flush waterused, but which is usable in places having a wide range of waterpressure, the valve being adjustable to all requirements, andfunctioning in the g substantially noiseles.

In accordance withmy invention, I pro vide in the interior of a valvecasing, a valve structure for controlling the flow through said casing,the latter affording a continuously increasing or relatively increasedarea of outlet for the water as the latter passes through saidcasingthereby not only avoid}- ing resistance which would cause noise,but also affording maximum capacity of flow.-

,My invention includes a manually openable valve in the casing, andmeans, manually operable, exteriorly of the casing, for opening saidvalve, and in the preferred form of my invention, said valve opensagainst water pressure so as to be closed thereby, and I also preferablyarrange the manual meansso that the same seeks to attain an initialposition by gravity so that the valve will be closed by the combinedaction of water pressure and the gravity acting means.

It is a feature of my invention to provide what I will term. a primaryadjustment, the function of which is to limit opening movement of thevalve and thereby control the amount or volume of water used at eachoperation. 1

A further feature consists in a secondary adjustable means ,which actsinharmony with the primary means and whose function it is to regulatethe rate of closing movement of the valve in accordance with theadjustment of the primary means. I

A further feature consists in providing a valve of this type whereininstallation may first be made, and-wherein all adjustments areexteriorly accessibleso that anyone can adjust the valve after it isconnected up.

movement of the movable member.

A further feature consists in providing a valve structure that willdivide off the casing into inlet and discharge chambers, the valvestructure being a hollow and preferably cylindrical type including aninverted cap closure member relatively movable with respect to acylindrical valve member.

A-special feature of this phase of the invention resides in means foradmitting water between the valve members to balance the member which isoperated, and in utilizing this water in connection with the secondaryadjusting means for timing closing i My invention has many otherfeatures of novelty which will be more fully described in connectionwith the accompanying. draw ing and which will be more particularlypointed out in and by the appended claims. 5

In the drawing Fig. 1, is a vertical sectional view of the preferredform, of my invention showing a full open flush adjustment. i

Fig. 2, is a similar view showing the valve in a closed adjustment.

Fig. 3, is a' sectional view on line 38' of Fig. 1. 1

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout thedifferent figures of the drawing. 7

The deviceof my invention, as shown, includes a valve casing comprisingan upper section 1, and a lower section.2. The sec tions are detachablyunited by union 3 having threaded engagement with section 1. A suitablepacking 4, is disposed partly between a shoulder 5, on section 1, and aseat 6, on section 2. This packing, which may be of any suitablematerial, is of angle cross section, and a portion 7, also functions asa seat for a closure member, to be later de scribed, Section 1, is shownas having an interiorly'threaded intake end 8, and section 2 has asimilarly threaded outlet end 9.

I will next describe my improved valve structure comprising relativelymovable valve members and which controls the flow through said casing.

What I will term the valve member, designated as a whole at 10, is shownformed integral with section 2, and extending longitudinally therein,and as shown, vertically into section 1 and into the path of'flow. Thisvalve member divides off the interior of the casing into inlet anddischargefchambers 11 and 12. It will alsobeinot'edthat member isaxially disposed in chamber 11 with 1 uniform circumferential spacethereabont and with the inlet passage for water at a point beyond orabove said member. The head 13, of said valve member 10, which as shown,is of the stationary member, is sub stantially closed ezvcept to apassage 14 and a longitudinal bearing bore 15, to be later described. Incross section, the hollow member 10 is cylindrical and the peripherythereof is smooth and of uniform diameter. 1 prof rahl groove the head13, as at 16, to form a seat for a packing ring 17. In the cylindriealwall of member 10 is formed a pluralit of flush water openings 18, themnnber of which may vary, but the preferable construction being suchthat the combined area of all of said openings will be equal to orslightly greater than the internal bore 19, of inlet end 8. Likewise,the area of chamber 11 is at leastequal to the bore 19 so that asidefrom friction, the water will confront no resistance in passing throughchamber 11 into chamber 12, when openings 18 are fully uncovered asshown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that discharge chamber 12 has anincreased cross cctional bore compared to chamber 11 which will affordthe freest flow therethrough irrespec ive' of the presence therein ofcertain operating mechanism to be later described.

I will next refer to the movable portion of the valve structure which isshown in the form of an inverted cup closure designated as a whole at20. The rim 21. thereof. is shaped to seat on packing: portion 7. whenin the closed position. t will be seen that the closure 20 exteriorlvtelescopes valve menu ber 10 and movable along; member 10 to eithercover or uncover openings 18. 3etwcen il ll'lllel'S 1 and 20 there is asuhstan' tiall v closed space or area. 272. "il hen closure ill; is adusted into or toward the flushing n shown in Fig. 1, it is moved againstwater .re in chamber 11, and bone this pressure is always active to moveclosure 20 into a closed position as the entire area 2; of the top ofsaid --osure is al ays exposed to chising pressure. It will al he notedthat when the closure is in a closed position, the space between thevalve members is greatly reduced with res 'iect to the space be tweensaid members when the closure is in the open adjustment shown in Fig. 1.In the top wall of iid closure is formed prefcrablv two relief portsanda suitable par-king disc 35,havingregistering ports, is fixed inplace as shown.

' I will n'eritdescribe the in'iproved operat- .ing means for openingand closing said valve structure.

An operating" rod 26; isreciproeable in hearing bore 15, in head 13,ashoulder 2T limiting; movement of said rod toward a closure openingposition. Said rod 26" is also provided with a shoulder adapter forengagement with the top of closure 20 for the purpose of raising thesame. The upper end of said rod reduced at 29 and this reduced end isslidable through the top of closure 20. A relief valve closure 30, isshown l ved to said reduced end 29 by a pin 31 and a nut The function ofclosure 30, is to close and open ports 2i. Closure 30, is spaced apartfrom shoulder 28 so as to leave play or sufiicient lost motion so thatwhen rod 26 is first actuated the first thing it Will do is to liftclosure and open ports 21 before shoulder 28 lifts closure 9.0. Thisinsures relief by admitting water to space 22, thereby disposing closure20 in an otpiilibrium of pressure and making it very asy to open thelatter. It will be understood that throughout the time of raisingclosure 20, the ports 2-1. will be openand the increasing; space 22 willbe filled with water.

I will next descrihe the improved gravity return manual. means employedto actuate closure 20.

A shaft 33 is journalled in suitable bearings 34: and carries a weightedhandle 3:) wiiich is upuardl inclined when the valve is in a flushingadjustn'ient. The lower end of rod 26, is forked, as shown at 36, and isfree from bearing engagement, the only bearing for red 26 being; in head13. A cam 37, on shaft 33, is engageable with crotch 38, of fork 36, orpin 39, to operate rod 26. It will be seen that when lever is raised,the action of cam 37 will be to shift the lower free end of rod to theleft of Fig. 1, because the friction drag will be in that direction whenthe cam is moved contra-clockwise. lVhen the opposite face of cam 37engages pin 39, a like direction of drag will be imparted to red 26. Itherefore provide cam 37 with an abutment 410, which limits shiftingmovement of the lower end of rod 26 tothe left, and whereby the rod isprevented from binding in bore while being longitudinally shifted. Itwill now be clear that just. as soon as manual lifting thrust isreleased from lever 35, after the latter has been raised to the positionshown in Fig. l, the weight of lever 35, rod 20 and cam 37, will combinewith water pre c we on top of closure 20. to move ihc latter to theclosed position shown in Fig. :3. The first result of release of leverwill be the seating of relief closure 30, thereby conlining the water inspace 22 and 1'Oi'22!(ll11 closing; movement of closure 20.

I will next describe a primary and a secondary means for control ofopening and closing; movement of closure-20.

Theprimary means includes an adjustable screw 41', extending throughsection 2, into the path of can1 3.7, andfacting as a stop therefor.,Tln s bv'. limiting movement of cam 3? toward, a valve openingposit-ion it is therefore possible to make an adjustment whereby closure20 may be opened to any desired extent. If the valve were operating on avery low pressure like twenty pounds, or even a slightly higherpressure, it would be advisable to completely uncover openings 18 byraising closure 20 to the full upper limit. However, suppose the valvewere operating under a high pressure such as one hundred pounds, thenthe screw 41 would be adjusted so that the cam 37 would be arrestedbefore the closure 20 fully uncovered openings 18. It will thus be seenthat in this embodiment, this primary means coacts in the perforn'ianceof its function with the manual operating means. 7

Next describing the secondary control, 42, designates a duct pipe whichis connected at its upper end in communication with duct 14:, in head13. The lower end opens to a boss 43, formed on the interior of section2. In this boss is a bore 4%, which is controlled by a needle valve 45,adjustable from the exterior. Vith closure 20, in the position shown inFig. 1, and just after release of upward stress on handle 85, thepressure in chamber 11 will act to return closure 20 to the positionshown in Fig. 2. WVith the re lief closure 30, seated, the water inspace 22, will have only one outlet, that being through duct 4-2. Thus,the closure 20 cannot be forced toward a closed position any faster thanthe water can escape from between the valve members. The speed at whichthe closure 20 can return to the position shown if Fig. 2, depends onthe adjustment of needle valve 45. Under either a high or low pressureof water service, the user might want a fast, medium or slow closingmovement of closure 20, in accordance with the amount of water hedesired to use in each flushing operation.

It is believed that the invention and its operation will be fullyunderstood from the foregoing description, and while I have shown onespecific embodiment thereof. I do not wish to be limited thereto exceptfor such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim l. A flush valve comprising a casing, a valve structure in saidcasing for controlling flow therethrough and comprising a movablemember, a valve actuating rod having one end portion journalled in saidstructure and operatively connected with said movable member to actuatethe latter, the remaining end portion of said rod being free, and manualmeans for impartlng operatmg endwise thrust to said rod and acting toprevent said rod from binding in its journal. 7

2. A flush valve comprising a casing, a valve structure in said casingfor controlling flow therethrough, said structure including "a movablevalve member, an operating rod longitudinallyjournalled in saidstructure and operatively connected with said member, and manuallyoperable cam means for imparting endwise thrust to said rod and actingto hold the latter against binding in its journal.

3. A flush valve comprising a casing, a valve structure in said casingfor controlling flow therethrough and including a movable valve member,a reciprocating rod j ournalled in said structure and operativelyconnected with said member, a cam for imparting endwise thrust to saidrodand tending to shift said rod laterally of its longitudinal axis, anda concentric abutmenton said cam pre-' venting said rod from beingshifted laterally under the action of said cam.

4. A flush valve comprising, a casing, a valve structure dividing offsaid easing into inlet and discharge chambers and comprising relativelytelescoping head and cup members, a push rod slidable in close fittingrelation through said head member and having lost motion connection withsaid cup member to shift the latter into a flushing position, a portclosure on said rod, and said cup member having a port laterally of saidrod and within coacting range of said closure to shut off admission ofwater through said port during closing movement of said cup member.

5. A flush valve comprising, a casing, a valve structure dividing-offsaid easing into inlet and discharge chambers and comprising relativelytelescoping head and cup members, a vertically disposed push rodslidable through said head member and having lost motion connection withsaid cup member to shift the latter upwardly into a flushing position, aport closure on said rod subject to water pressure on both facesthereof, and said cup member having a port within coacting range of saidclosure, and gravity acting means for imparting closing movement to saidclosure to close said port and overcome water pressure resistance tosuch closing movementinstantly upon re lease of pushing thrust on saidrod.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereby aflix mysignature.

EMANUEL KROMER.

